Gabrielius Landsbergis awarded French Legion of Honour

Former Lithuanian minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has been awarded the Knight of the Legion of Honour by France. The award recognizes his contributions to fostering democracy, the European project, and strengthening bilateral relations and intellectual dialogue between France and Lithuania.

During the ceremony, Linas Stepanyan noted that France honors Landsbergis as an invaluable partner who builds bridges between the two nations. Landsbergis expressed his gratitude to France for its support of both Lithuania and Ukraine. He remarked that Lithuania’s support for freedom in regions such as Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Hong Kong, and Taiwan stems from an instinctive recognition of shared struggles for independence rather than mere geopolitical calculation.

Landsbergis also emphasized the critical importance of allied partnerships in the face of real threats posed by Russia, noting that the security of the progress made is currently at risk.